"Obama Holds Firm on Climate Bill, but Most Senators Shrug"

"President Obama refused to back down from his ambitious energy and climate change agenda during last night's State of the Union address, prodding the Senate to pass a comprehensive bill despite complaints from moderates in both parties that the issue is too big to tackle in an election year.

The president inserted climate and energy legislation near the top of his domestic agenda, urging lawmakers to shift there once they finish work on a jobs bill and new financial rules for Wall Street. Notably, Obama mentioned the energy and climate issue ahead of his health care reform effort that hit a major snag last week when Senate Democrats lost their 60-seat supermajority in the Massachusetts special election.

To widespread applause from Democrats, Obama said he was 'grateful' to the House for passing its version of a global warming bill (H.R. 2454) last June. And, with a contingent of frustrated House Democrats cheering him on, the president nudged the other end of the Capitol to pick up its pace too."

Darren Samuelsohn reports for ClimateWire January 28, 2010.

See Also:

"Carbon Traders and Clean-Tech Companies Heartened by State of the Union" (ClimateWire)

"U.S. Cap And Trade Must Take Back Seat: Executives" (Reuters)

"Senators Try To Raise Climate Bill From Ashes" (Reuters)